Derby County’s Under-23s progressed to the Quarter Final stage of the 2021/22 Premier League Cup following an eventful 4-3 win against Sheffield United on Monday evening.
After a 2-2 draw over 90 minutes, the Rams came back from 3-2 down in extra-time to win the tie with two dramatic late goals at Loughborough University Stadium to reach the last eight of the competition.
United captain Ollie Arblaster opened the scoring after 40 minutes with an effort from distance, but Derby hit back quickly to equalise in added time at the end of the first half through attacking midfielder Louie Sibley’s excellent strike.
The Rams turned the game on its head just after the break as striker Bartosz Cybulski found the net with a predatory finish after the ball fell his way inside the box.
The Poland youth international frontman’s strike looked to be a decisive one, with goalkeeper Harrison Foulkes making a dramatic penalty save late on to deny William Osula.
However, there was a late twist in the tale as Osula equalised in the final minute to take the game to extra time.
The Blades’ forward put his side in control in the first period of extra time with a deflected effort, but Derby hit back to equalise once more early in the second period through defender Kornell McDonald.
Then, with time running out, substitute Josh Shonibare headed home the winner to see the Rams over the line on a dramatic evening.
Under-23s boss Pat Lyons remained short of out-and-out central defenders for the game with Eiran Cashin impressing in the first team and Harrison Solomon and Max Bardell sidelined due to injury, so right-back McDonald and midfielder Courtney Clarke started at the heart of the defence.
Midfielder Connor Dixon was once again out with an ankle injury, but Lyons was able to bolster his ranks with Sibley and Liam Thompson - who were on the bench for the first team against Barnsley on Saturday - stepping into the side to gain match minutes.
Derby approached the cup tie in positive fashion following five wins and a draw from their six Group C matches earlier in the campaign, an impressive run of form that saw them finish top of the standings ahead of Norwich City, Reading and Charlton Athletic.
The early stages of the contest were high in terms of endeavour and determination from both sides, but chances in front of goal were few and far between for much of the opening 45 minutes on a cool and blustery evening under the Loughborough floodlights.
It wasn’t until bang on the half hour mark that the first notable effort at goal was registered as Foulkes in the Derby goal made a routine stop to keep out Andre Brooks’ goalbound shot from distance.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, the Blades opened the scoring. McDonald’s defensive header fell to Arblaster on the edge of the box and, after bringing the ball down with his chest to take it under control, he unleashed a clinical strike which left Foulkes with no chance.
Derby had little time to find a response before half-time, but they produced an immediate reaction to falling behind and managed to haul themselves back onto level terms ahead of the interval as Sibley netted a fine effort to round off a neat passage of attacking play.
Neat link-up play between Tyree Wilson and Louie Watson worked the ball to Sibley just outside the Blades’ penalty area and, with his favoured left foot, he let fly with an effort that flashed into the top corner and saw the Rams return to the dressing room knowing there was all to play for in the second half.
Derby were out the traps quickly in the second period and they took the lead for the first time in the tie after 49 minutes as Cybulski was on the spot to find the back of the net.
After Wilson’s shot was blocked, the 19-year-old frontman was on hand to latch onto the rebound and fire the ball beyond Callum Hiddleston in the Blades’ goal for his sixth goal of the season in all competitions.
Derby had to soak up some pressure from the visitors as they sought to get themselves back into the tie and Foulkes was called into action to deny Osula as he read his effort from range all the way soon afterwards.
With United pushing forward for an equaliser, the Rams nearly made them pay on the break with 15 minutes remaining as Clarke won possession on the halfway line and drove forward with real purpose, but his effort from 20 yards was off target and failed to test Hiddleston.
Derby, after looking in control, conceded a penalty with ten minutes left after Thompson brought Arblaster down in the box - but they were able to breathe a huge sigh of relief as Foulkes stepped up to the plate at a key moment and saved Osula’s penalty with his feet.
They thought they had done enough to see themselves over the line, but United equalised in the final minute as Osula atoned for his penalty miss by getting on the end of Angelo Cappello’s cross to take the tie into extra time.
In the first period of extra time, after the sides couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes, United took the lead midway through the half as Osula’s effort front the edge of the box took a wicked deflection to guide the ball away from Foulkes and into the net.
Derby thought they’d equalised once again soon afterwards as Watson let fly with a right-foot strike from 18 yards out, but his effort whistled just wide of the post.
Substitute Ola Ibrahim was denied by Hiddleston from close range at the beginning of the second period of extra time, but the Rams didn’t have to wait long to draw level once again as they equalised with 110 minutes on the clock by showing great character.
McDonald was the surprise name on the scoresheet as he managed to bundle the ball home from his defensive colleague Clarke’s cross into the Blades’ penalty area.
Then, with the clock ticking down and only four minutes left, Derby netted what turned out to be the winner. Shonibare, off the bench, headed home after Thompson’s free kick caused mayhem in the visitors’ defence.
It was a moment of delight for the forward who is currently building up his fitness with the Rams as a free agent after a long-term injury whilst with the club last season.
Lyons’ side will now wait to discover their opponents in the Quarter Finals of the competition with the prize of a place in the Semi-Final stage on offer to the winners.
After taking a brief break from their Premier League 2 - Division 1 survival mission, Derby’s Under-23s will return to action against Leicester City at Moor Farm Training Ground on Sunday 13th March (1pm kick-off).
Derby County Under-23s: Foulkes (GK), Robinson, Grewal-Pollard, Thompson, McDonald, Clarke, Wilson (Shonibare 75), Watson (C), Cybulski (Ibrahim 105), Sibley, Aghatise.
Substitutes Not Used: Brailsford, Matthews.
Sheffield United: Hiddleston (GK), Starbuck, Buyabu, Freckleton, Sachdev, Gomis, Peck, Arblaster (C), Osula, Cappello, Brooks.
Substitutes Not Used: Belehouan, Hampshaw (GK), Ayari, Staniland, Williams.